Kmflett's Blog

Pubs do need saving from global drinks companies & Nigel Farage

The Government is consulting on new measures designed to reduce drink driving. Statistics of course can back any case but driving after a drink is not a good idea.

I have never driven a car and back in the day when my employer offered me, free, the chance to learn to drive and take a test I declined. I knew perfectly well that the temptation to drink and drive would at some point occur and the result might not be a happy one for myself and others.

Of course some are not bothered including inevitably Farage (quoted in the Telegraph 7^th January)although I suspect the issue is whether his chauffeur likes a drink.

There are reasons for having a car in London, if you have kids or problems getting around, but otherwise public transport works fine. That is not the case in many other and particularly rural areas.

The pub should be the hub of the community and an important way of addressing that is to make sure there is transport to get to and from it.

There is also of course the designated driver, perhaps someone who like the pub but alcohol for one reason or another less so. Low and No alcohol drinks are also much improved. Full credit to Wetherspoons for featuring a range in their January sale. Some other pubs might take note.

The Telegraph campaign makes some reasonable points. The business rates debacle does need to be addressed and the Government appears to be at least thinking about that. The duty paid on alcohol in pubs needs to be standardised with supermarkets (a favourite campaign of Tim Martin) and a lot more needs to be done about global beer and drinks companies who put their own profits above the need of pubs to make a normal profit (i.e. enough to live on).

Of course with the Telegraph right-wing politics is never far off. The increase in the minimum wage, in the sense that a rising tide floats all boats, should give at least some a bit more to spend in the pub. It’s a good not a bad thing.

As for banning Labour MPs from pubs, it’s a strange business that decides it doesn’t want customers because of their opinions (obviously there might be an exception for those with a toothbrush moustache).

So yes the pub does need saving. Far more are closing than are opening (that does happen btw but is little reported). And yes all should be welcome in the pub, Tories, Trots and anyone else..

The Telegraph campaign deserves critical support (as above) but really the Campaign for Real Ale has been and still is on the job and, while the Telegraph doesn’t say so, it deserves both your support and where appropriate your membership